Dental assistants provide quality preventative and corrective dental care under direct supervision of the dentist or dental hygienist. The Dental Assistant is responsible for assisting dentists and dental hygienists with patient care as well as providing certain administrative support to the office. The Kishwaukee College - Dental Assistant program consists of 90 hours of instruction (70 hours of classroom instruction and a 20-hour non-paid, externship in a dental facility.) The purpose of this course is to familiarize the student with all areas of dental assisting and provide training in the professional skills required to function as an assistant in the dental practice. Students must be at least age 18 to register.

Career Outlook

The need for trained, Dental Assistants is growing substantially in our community. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment in the dental field is expected to grow 25 percent from 2012-2022, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. Ongoing research linking oral health and general health will likely continue to increase the demand for preventive dental services. Additional reasons for expansion include the population growth, greater retention of natural teeth by middle-aged and older people, and an increased focus on preventative dental care for younger generations will fuel demand for dental services.

Externships

Externships are scheduled for a one week period, after classroom instruction has ended and before the final exam. Students are required to provide their own transportation to and from their externship site which can be located within a 50 mile radius of Kishwaukee College. Drug testing and a criminal background check are required for externship placement.

Payment Plan

Federal and State financial aid are not available to offset the cost of the Dental Assistant program. There is a payment plan available.

There is an INFORMATION SESSION on April 11 (6-7pm) for anyone who is interested in the program and would like additional information and the opportunity to ask questions before registering for the program.

There is a mandatory orientation for those that are registered for the summer session on May 10, Thursday, 7pm-8pm.